Suspect surrenders after shots are fired in Oxnard

Oxnard police responded to Kepler Drive about midnight after a report of a shooting. More resources were called in about 4 a.m. after an investigation led authorities to believe the person responsible for the shooting might be in a house on the street.

Ventura County Star

A 43-year-old man suspected of shooting at another man during a confrontation in Oxnard turned himself in today after investigators surrounded a home in a nearby neighborhood and found he was not inside, officials said.

Antonio Garcia of Oxnard turned himself in at the Oxnard Police Department about 3 p.m. in connection with the shooting, which occurred just before midnight Thursday in the 2300 block of Farragut Court, police said.

When officers responded to the initial report of the shooting, they found a 31-year-old man who told them he had been in his front yard when he was confronted by an acquaintance, Oxnard police Sgt. Chris Williams said.

The two men got into a confrontation and the acquaintance pulled out a gun, Williams said.

During the confrontation, the suspect's 15-year-old son arrived and tried to defuse the situation, police said. The teen reportedly told his father not to shoot and struggled with the suspect, Williams said.

The acquaintance fired several shots toward the victim, who fled back to his garage, Williams said. The acquaintance fled the area and no one was injured, police said.

Investigators developed leads that the suspect might be at a residence in the 1900 block of Kepler Drive and officers responded to that area. About 4 a.m., a SWAT team and other resources were called to Kepler Drive, authorities said.

Oxnard police requested robots from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, and sheriff's officials dispatched two to the scene, sheriff's Capt. Bill Flannigan said.

Authorities surrounded the home and tried for hours to contact the suspect using a telephone and public address system, but later determined he was not inside.

Police obtained a search warrant and searched the residence, where evidence was seized, officials said. Police did not describe the evidence, saying doing so could compromise the investigation.

Kepler Drive was blocked from Gershwin Place to Dickenson Place and several homes were evacuated as a precaution while the home was surrounded, authorities said. The street stayed closed into the late morning.

Shortly after the home was searched, Garcia's attorney contacted Oxnard police and arranged for the suspect to turn himself in, police said.

After surrendering to police, Garcia was booked into Ventura County jail on suspicion of attempted murder, police said.